Amusement and educational device



Aug. 17, 1948. D. SILVERMAN AMUSEMENT AND' EDUCATIONAL DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 19, 1946 ARC. LAMP 'lllll;

:nzvmkm 044mg 671 I/EEMAA/ Aug. 17, 1948. D SILVERMAN 2,447,370

AMUSEMENT AND EDUCATIQNAL DEVICE Filed Ju ly 19, 1 946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 17, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I 2,447,370 j l AMUSEMENT AND EDUCATIONAL DEVICE Daniel Silverman, Richmond, Va.

Application July 19,1946, Serial No. 684,825

Claims. 1

This invention relates to amusement and educational devices. More particularly, the inven-' tion relates to an amusement and educational device of the type producing a visible and/0r audible signal when the answer to a given question is indicated.

It is an object of the invention to provide a device of theaforementioned type comprising a cabinet sin'iulating a radio cabinet; said cabinet being providedwith a compact electrical unit for producing the signal or signals,'a dial, and means for supporting a card on the front face thereof, said card'having the questions and answers indicated thereon.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a compact electrical unit for use in a de-' vice of the character indicated; said unit comprising a plurality of electrical conducting plates, separated by insulation, which provide not only a means for conducting the electrical energy to the signal or signals, but also provide means for supportin the signal or signals, the'dial, switch,

and the means for-supplying the electrical energy. which in the present instance consists of a dry-cell battery.

A further object of the invention is to provide an electricalunit ofthe type indicated which can be readily assembled, and, after-assembly, all of the parts thereof can be clamped together in one operation to form a compact structure which is substantially free of trouble such as short circuits, loose connections, etc., which are prevalent in electrical devices in which ordinary electric wiring is used.

An additional object of the invention is to provide an electrical unit of the type indicated which substantially eliminates electrical conductors in the form of electric wiring.

Another object of the invention is to provide a compact electrical unit of the character indicated which can be readily tested before assembly with respect to the cabinet.

Another object of the invention is to provide an amusement and educational device of the aforementioned type which eliminates troublesome and complicated gear trains, yet is positive in action, simpler and less'expensive to manufacture than devices heretofore known, and,

which iseificient and durable in service.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds,

tion and answer card positioned on the front of the housing and partly broken away to illustrate Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a rear elevational view of Fig. 1, parts being broken away to show underlying structure.

Fig. 4 is anexploded perspective view of elements comprising the compact electrical unit,

'Fig. 5 is a fragmentary, sectional view illustrating the electrical unit; dial, etc., in assembled relation with the switch in circuit closing position;

Fig; 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 66 of Fig. 5 looking in the direction of the arrow,

' Fig. 7 is a diagrammatical view of the electric circuit,

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view of the lamp socket and. its connections,

Fig. 9 is a plan view of a combination spring and disc retaining element used in the unit,

Fig. 10 is a sectional view of the; spring andrection of the arrows, illustrating the position of the question and answer card relative to the front wall of the cabinet.

Referring now to the drawing, it will be seen that my device comprises a housing or cabinet I comprising a front face or wallZ which is provided with projections 3 simulating the speaker section of the'usual metallic radio cabinet, and

;-a rear door 4.

The door 4 is provided with a'hinge 5' (Fig. 3) at its bottom, and a pin 6 at its top adapted to'be engagedby a pivoted bracket or keeper 1 mounted on the top of the cabinet I to maintain the door in closed position.

The top of the cabinet I is also provided with a handle 8' rendering the device portable so that itmay'be readily carried from place to place.

The elements comprising my compact electrical'unit are illustrated in exploded relation in Fig. 4, and in assembled relation in Fig. 5.

These elements comprise, in order from front to rear as illustrated in Fig. 4, a'firstelectrically conducting plate 9, an insulating plate It), a second electrically conducting plate l l, an in- The plate 9 is? slightly larger than the other plates and is provided with inturned flanges I9 along the edges thereof.

will be more fully described. later.

The insulating plate II! is substantially identical in construction to the plate except-that the inwardly directed flanges 2I thereof extend inwardly a :slightly: greater :distance: than .do 'the flanges I 91.. opening; 22 "is provided-centrally of the plate 3 I ii J and'ithisfopening registersi with the opening and. islet-substantially the :same diameter.

Thev plate II is. merely 'a'fiat plate'providedwitha central"opening f23which' issomewhat larger than the openings" 20: and '22 :and'; intact is-made sufficiently large that itdoes nctccomerin electrical- -contact with theeyelet II passing there-' through. The plate I I i is provided with three small openings 24 adapted to receive rivets sup porting an upperlcont'act bracket 25 r (Fig: 3) partially supporting the dry' cell battery 26.". The plate II is also provided with twodiametrica'lly opposed rearwardly extending-projections 21.:for a purpose to be later described.

The plates I2- and I3 are substantially flat plates and are of substantially theh samelshape. These plates l2 and I3 are provided with-relatively large central openings 28' and 29, respectively, and substantially-- rectangular openings 30 and?) I, respectively, through the latter of which the contact bracket" 25 5? extendswithout-making electrical contact with the'plate I31 The plate I3 is provided with suitable=openings 32 which' are adapted to receivemeans such as rivets for attaching an audible signal device- 33 which may be, if desired-, an-'ordi-nary:buzzer. The plate I 3 -is -f1'1rther. provided with openings 34' adapted to receive suitable: means such: as'

rivets for attaching a lower contactbracketf35" (Fig. 3) i of the battery supporting meansth'ereto:

in electrically conducting relationship;

The contact bracket members 25 and 35-.compriseend and 1 sidefingers and are made of an electricallyconductingmaterial such as spring metal-= whereby'1thefingers comprising the .asame maybe sprungoutwardly to receivetthe dry cell battery 25 in a well known manner. The e'nd fingers 25" and-35' contact the respective endsv of thebatteryiZB.

The-fiber washer I4 is preferably cylindrical. in shape and 'is 'providedwith ace'ntral "opening 36 and two pairs of diametricallyppposed openings 31 and 38.

The disc retaining spring member I 5' compris'es a circular metalplateprovided with a' central opening 39- and inwardly directed diametrically opposed projections" 40." tions of themember I5 are cut 'away'adjac the-periphery-thereof and the remaining strip of metalis --bent outward1y-- and inwardly -inzsub stanti'ally a V-shape- -to provide spring .members as 'will--be later described. Preferably" three or Also, an inturned tab 9' is provided preferably centrally of the top of the plate 9. The plate 9 also hasasrnall opening 20 located centrally thereof which receives and makes electrical contact with the eyelet II-as" Three L-shaped por-- ent more of the fingers 4| are provided. If more or less are used, the spacing will obviously be difierent than 120 degrees.

The disc I6 is preferably of a shallow cup- 5 shape having a radially outwardly directed annular flange 42. The inwardly directed face of the flange 42 is provided with twelve equally spaced indicia 42 comprising the numerals I9, 20, etc., to, I20 in substantially the same manner as 10 a radio dialif." The bottom of the cup-shaped portion of the disc I6 is provided with a central .opening 44 and a plurality of circumferentially extending, equally spaced openings 45 surround- 1iing'jthe"centraliopening 44. In the present instance twelve openings 45 are used, correspond ingto-tlre'twe'lve numbers, however, more or less mnumbersfanctbpenings may be used if desired. The total number, however, must be an even -numb'erp 20 The eyelet I'I comprises a rather large head as, asmallerflangezportionAT and a. still smaller tubulatportion- 48 andfil'3 may then .beipositioned in order onplate II withether'signal'device'33 and bracket '35 secured.to:the;plate"I3.-. Next, the washer'M is placed onrthe-platerl I thr 2B-andit29:of'the'plates I 2 such a manner that projections: 21 project into the;diametricallyfopposed.openings 31, for. example; The: memberl I5 isithen positioned onthe washer Ikwitliztheiprojections *extending into thee diametrically? opposedi'openings 38 of the washer:l 4;- :The'proje'ctions 2:1 prevent rotational 4Q -moyementof .thezwashercl and'hence the projections :Mzextending: into. the washer I4 fprevent rotationallmovementpfithe'member I5; The disc- I6 is; nexir:positi'oned :on;;thei spring "member I5 and thetfin-gers :41: of' thetspringi I 5 project into. the openings 45 of the disk I5. Withcth'ese ele,-

rnentsein this: position-.theeyelet I! is inserted through the .zcentrial openings .7 of .thevarious elementsjustidescribed:

Theeeyelti'lfl iis'zthenfrivetedior upset as indie bfihcated-iat'i I'I'T' (Fig-:65): andf: the flanges IQ" are.

pressedrzinwardly.totclamp thezelements 9 fto' I'I; inclusives'lintoaa compac operations may be'tperformed at the sametime, and it is to be noted that th ctheiflanges Ifl-iofithe-plate 9 from'the plate I3.

The: disc "4'6? is erotatably mounted upon the fiangeportionfl of the 'eyelet'l'l. In the clamping opera-tion the tab 9 isanot'pressed downwardlyrand?arcorrespondingzinsulating tab Ill on the I 50 plate'rI fliseparates' Ithe' tab'fl from. aicorrespon'ding tabl l 3."on1th'e plate .I 3'." 7

As more clearly shownin Fig; 8, the tabs .9; I0, and" l=3l support alampereceiving socket flewhich is suitably .securedi-by imeans of aninwardly .di.-' v'erected"eyelet 501:inzielectrical; contact with the tab9.5?and4platei9 rivet 5| extends upwardly through theseyelet 55' and an insulating washer 52 positioned thereabove. The rivet 5I is f "smaller diameter than"theeyelet 50 so that there can ban-o electricalcontact therebetween, and aits uppertend the'rivet 5I-passes through a spring 53 supported on the washer 53 which leads to one side of the lamp filament.

T Theriamp socket 49 re'ceives'a' TheielementsQ to'.I'I .justidescribed are assem-- bledzinto. az;very, "cornpact electrical. unit asv fol- I0 is positioned within the-plate 9 oughthe'large openings 3,1111. l3iurespectively; in

tLunit. Both of these;

e flanges 2I insulate.

irom sth'e *tab -I 3f. -.'1n electrical "contact therewith 1231113 54 (Fig. 3)

and one. side of the audible signal 33 is in electri cal contactwith the plate l3 to which it is ate tached and the other side thereof is electrically connected to a tab 55 formed in a flange I9 of the plate 9 by means of a very short electrical wire connection 56.

Referring now to Figs. 5 and 6, it will be noted that the disc I6 is also provided, in the bottom of its cup-shaped portion with a recess 51 having an opening 58 extending therethrough. An electrical contact element in the form of an eyelet 59 extends through said opening in spaced relation to the disc l6, and also through insulating'w-ashers -60 and 6|, one on each side of the disc l6, and through a flange 62 of a sweep contact element 63. The element '63 extendsthrcu'gh the openings 28 and 29 of the plate I2 and I3, respectively, to the plate ll thereby providing electrical communication between the plate H and the contact element 59.

7A shaft 64 is rotatably mounted in the eyelet H. The shaft preferably has a reduced'en-d portion (not shown) over which the switch arm I8 is placed and securely riveted thereto as indicated at 65, Fig. 5.

The shaft 64 extends through the front face or wall 2 of the housing I through a suitable opening 65 therein, and at its forward end receives an indicator B1. The pointer 68, of the indicator B7, is angularly spaced 180 degrees from the pointer switch 18 and a set screw 10 securely fastens the indicator 61 to the shaft 64. Preferably an openingor flattened portion (not shown) is provided 90 degrees from the pointer switch to receive the setscrew to provide means forquickly and accurately positioning the indicator 6'? on the shaft 64.

The-switch I8 is provided with a contact point or element 1| which engages the contact eyelet 5'9 mounted in the disc l6. Due to the recess '51, the eyelet contact 59 is flush with the rear face of the disc It. The switch arm I8 is also provided with an inwardly directed lug 12 which engages an outwardly or rearwardly directed pro jection 13 on the rotatable disc id. The projection T3 is preferably spaced 180 degrees from the eyelet contact 59 and when engaged by the lug '!2 provides a means whereby the disc may be rotated by the indicator 61.

Referring now to Figs. 3, 4, '7 and 8, and assuming that the switch contact H is in engagement with the contact eyelet '59, the electric circuit is as follows? a From the battery 26 through finger 35' to plate t3 thence direct to the audible signal 33 and through wire 56 to plate 9, and parallel therewith, through tab I3, rivet'E l spring 53, lamp 54, socket 49 to the plate 9; from the plate 9, through the eyelet I1 and shaft 64 to the switch arm is, contact point H, eyelet 59, sweep contact member 63, plate M and finger 25' to the other side of the battery 26.

Any suitable means may be used to mount my compact electrical unit to the wall 2 of the housing I. As illustrated in Fig. 3, relatively large openings =14 may be provided in the metal plates it, II and 9, and relatively small screws 15 extended therethrough and through the wall 2 of the housing.

To prevent tampering with the rotatable switch l8 and dial l6, a cup-shaped housing l6 may be provided and secured to theplate I3 by up-struck tabs 11.

Any number of question and answer cards may be used with my device, and withtwelve openings 6 45 and twelve numbers 10, 20,. etc., to 120 on the disc, twelve question and twelve answers may be associated with each card; The questions and answers on the cards may relate to inventions,

The card 18 is also provided with a dial viewing opening 83, and an opening 82 throughwhich atranslucent, colored, lens 8| extends.

The front face or wall 2 of the cabinet cessed as indicated at 19, and the lower corners thereof are provided with s1its.'|9' to receive and support the cardlil.

The lens 8| has the word Answer embedded therein and is mounted in a suitable opening 8| in the wall 2 in front of thelamp 54 and may be securedtherein by means of an eyelet 'having an upwardly directed t-ab'89' which also supports the-card 18. l V

In placinga card 18 on the face 2 of the cabinet, the opening 82 is placed over the tab 80' and then the lower corners of the card are inserted into the slits l9. a

The wall 2 has an opening 85 provided with a pointer 86 through which'the indicia on the disc is may be viewed, and registering therewith, for

the same purpose, are openings 81, 88, 89, 99 and 9| in the plates 9, IO, N, l2 and I3, respectively.

are energized, approximately degrees since the eyelet 59 and projection 13 are so spaced,

at which time the indicator 61 will be pointing to the correct answer on the card 18.

In the position illustrated in Fig. l, the question relating to the inventor of the airplane has'been selected, and the numeral 19 associated therewith has just been turned to the pointer 86. It will be noted that (reverse) rotation of the indicator 61 through 180 degrees will designate O 8: W

Wright, 1903, and also, the signals will be energized as previously described.

As the disc I6 is rotated due to engagement of its projection 13 by the lug 12 of the switch arm l8, the spring fingers 4| move into and out of the openings 45. Upon reverse rotation of the indicator 61, after the desired number is indicated by the pointer 86, the fingers 4| projecting into the openings 45 prevent rotation of the disc; Preferably three or more fingers 4| are provided to properly balance the disc .IG.

Obviously more or less questions and answers than twelve on each card can be used if desired.

If twenty-four are used, for example,it is only" necessary to provide twenty-four equally spaced openings 45, twenty-four equally spaced numbers on the disc |6 instead of twelve as disclosed herein, and twenty-four answers at 15 degree intervals on the cards.

Also, it is not necessary to have the pointer iv 68 of the indicator 6'! spaced 180 degrees from the switch .IB, but when so constructed, 180 degrees of indicator play is always provided regardless of which way the indicator 6! is turned'to ob-:

The card is 7 tainiith'esdesirledsnnmberi her at the pointer 86.

It' iwill nlsc i'be rnbviousilthatifieltherzone ioisthe signaltmeamstiltomfl' mayebez-omitt-edxif; desired, howevenfboth areapreierred.:;

:It?is:a1sofl;o:benoted that myltcompact. electrical.

switlitlS isfmovedtitoz'zthe:contact: eyelet 59. v.If. everything is in:order; .thersignalumeans.'.wi1'l .be/

actuated aasrzsoom: as "the switch contact 1| ,engages-the contacteyelet; 59.2

:W'hileethe' invention::.is susceptible of various modifications and alternative 5 constructions; I

have islrown in-:th'e='dr'awings:and have herein desdribediin'adetailithe preferred: embodiment, but it o isitozibemn'derstoo'duthat 1 do not thereby intend to limit :the': invention to the specific form" disclosed, buttintend toic'overlall'i'modificationsrand; alternatlve constructions falling within the-spirit and.

scope-f: thezinrentiom as expressedinrtheappendr ed'r-ielaims 1. An educational device of theitypexiescribed,

comprfising 'azcabirlete :anee'lectrica'liiunitrzin rsaid cabinetn'sai'd xtunic:comprising first; second and third.z eiectrcicailyriconducting:rplates; insulation.

between saidpiatesgazsignalieiectrically connected betweemsatdfirst and thirdiplates, a-ibattery electricailyiconnectedizbetweerr sai'disecondziandzthird plat azdi'sc matting indicia thereon-spaced from said; h'ird plate ibyi insulating imeansyzan" eyeletextending through; sai'dt'plateszandidisc; saidTsec-J 0nd thirdtipiatesicbeingr spaced: fronr said o eyeletn'said dismbeing; rotatable on i said 'eyelet,

a :rotatable rsshaftziextending;"throughzsaidr eyelet and-:icabinet; a switchsrotatable"rwith zsaid: shaft andcnssociatedzwith SZJidi'fiiSCQJaQDiDtBI rotatable .1

witnr ai'dtshafiinutwandly oftthetca'binet, an electric contact elementse'cnred to saidx disc'and ex-i tendingsto ssaidisecohdplate ,"saido-contactlelement diciaethereon:

V ZmAneeducatiQnaI zdevicerofztthe type-described, comprising a:-=-cabinet,"anelectrical unit.-.insaid' cabinet; saidrrunit comprising: first, second and thirdrrel'ectrically conducting :plates,: means insulatings;saiduplatesrfrom: eachpther; signal electrically connected-:between-ssaid Tfirst and'third I plates;'= azsource iofe.electricmurrent:connected-11cm tween said secondandzthirdiplates;azdisc having indicia ethereong means rinsulating-qsaid disc: from saidzthirdiplateg:an eyeletextending through said disc-rand plates; zsaids econd: and :thirdplatesbeing-j spacedrfrom: said--'eyelet,iawrotatable'sshaftextend inget'hroughesaidx cabinet ands eyelet; a switchtsecuredfto'isaid'shaft and assdciatedzwi-th saidcdisc,

arrlindicatorzrenrovablymecuredzto said" shaft,t.an electric contact element securedsto saididisc; a:

sweeprelement-tsecured:to 1zsaid2 contact element and":"extending-,to: saidisec'on'dZ"plate, saidcontact element b'eing f:insulated from: said disc, said switchi belngiiadazpt'ediitof engage-z said contact,

meanszfdrcrotatingi 'saididisqiand a card remov itheipomter rfifi.. vIf 1 spacedlzdifierentlwim'orez orcrlesszzindicatorz. play. would ibezprovidediidepending:urmmwhich direce ti'omrtheindicatortwas turnedztoroobtain .the numably; mountedionzsaid icabinetgsaid; card-zheing'ii associated vwithisaid indicatorzandfliayingfindicia;z,

thereon.

3.. An educationaledevice:of-:.the.type:describBd;

comprising a: cabinet, an electrical. unit-Lin: said;

cabinet, said electrical unit comprisingifirsty. second and third vplatesfinsulatedifromtzeach othen-a signal connected between said firstzand third. plates, a source of l. electric. currentsupeported by and'in electrical contactz'withcsaidt second and third-plates, a rotary disc:having=.i-n-.- dicator means associated therewith,1means:cone trolled by said indicator-means for'establishing; an electric current through said platesandsignal;

and a card removably mounted on'said cabinet;

said card being. associated'with said indlcator means and having indicia thereon.-

i-I'In an educational device of the' type-ide scribed, an electrical unitncomprising first,"-seco'nd t and third electrical conducting plates, an insula't ing'plate between said firstand second a'nd said second and third plates, all of said plates havingopenin s extending therethrough in registration with each other, the opening-in'said'second plater being larger than the opening in said first' plate,=-

and the openings in said third plate and' th'e insulating plate between said second andithird plates being greater th'an 'the opening'in said' second'plate, a disc havingan-open-ing thereirr,

an insulating washer having an opening therein? spacing said disc from said third" plate,"an* eyelet 1 extending through the openings in said disc,

washer and plates, said disc being rotatably mounted on said eyelet and provided with" a sweep contact member insulated therefrom extending to said second plate, flanges on'said first plate and said insulating plate between said first and second plates embracing said other-plates,

second openings in said third plateand'thein sulating plate between said second and third plates, a battery bracket secured to'said secondplate'and extending through said last mentioned openings, and a second batterybracketco'opei'ating with said first "bracket secured to' said third plate.

5. In an educational device ofrth'e type de-a scribed, an'electrical unit comprising first, second. and third electrical conductingplates,insulateing means betweensaidplates, a rotatableldisc insulated from saidsecond andthird .platesands provided with a sweep contact member. insulated, therefrom extending to said second plate,imeans securing said disc, washer and plates-together. to form a compact unit, battery bracketshsecured: toosaid secondlandthird plates, respectively, a signal connected between said first and-,third plates, and means for electrically connecting said :l first and-.secondplates including a switch adapted.

.to 7 contact said sweep, contact member.

DANIEh SILVERMANZ- REFERENCES CITED Theefoliowing references -are ofrcco'rdf'in'lthe. filexot this patent:

UJYLITEU STATESTPATENTSV Number Name Date 1,686,105 Rothenberg Oct. 2, 1928- 1,948,712 Hornung Febj27f 1934- 1,968,123 Bricken July-31,1934? FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date I 445,052 Great Britain Apr; 25 1936 

